Thursday, September 25, 2008

It's looking to be a fun last weekend in baseball. Five teams are battling for the last three playoff spots with only four days left in the season. In the AL, a mere 1/2 game separates the White Sox and Twins in the battle for the AL Central title. In the Senior Circuit (you never hear that one anymore), the Phillies and Mets go at it for the AL East title while the Mets and Brewers are tied for the wild card spot.

With all that going on, it seems a little premature to think about the World Series. Prior to 2004, the dream matchup would have been Red Sox-Cubs. I think some of the steam has gone out of that since the Sox won the World Series (twice!). Having seven games split between Fenway and Wrigley would be a big plus, but I don't think the matchup is hugely compelling beyond that, other than the normal interest in two of baseball's best teams playing each other for the championship.

So, what would be my dream World Series matchups? Of course, any true dream matchup for me would include the Red Sox, but in the interest of fairness, I'll limit the Red Sox to one matchup. Here they are:

Red Sox vs Dodgers: Manny Ramirez, Nomar Garciaparra and Derek Lowe, three ex-Sox who left Boston under less than ideal terms, play for the Dodgers. Joe Torre, ex-Yankee manager and respected Red Sox nemesis, is their manager. Dodger owner Frank McCourt is a Boston guy. The story possibilities are endless. The sheer drama of Manny's first at-bat at Fenway alone would be must viewing.

White Sox vs Cubs: The North Side vs. the South Side of Chicago would make for some compelling TV. The Cubs, with their 100 year championship drought taking on the ChiSox, who ended their own 88 year winless streak in 2005. Plus, Ozzie Guillen and Lou Pinella are two of the most volatile managers in baseball who are liable to say just about anything.

Rays vs. Brewers: A battle of small market, Cinderella teams. The Brewers haven't been in the playoffs since the early '80s. The Rays had never won more than 70 games before this year. Who's clock strikes midnight first?